Speaking specifically to this picture
https://www.atomicarchive.com/history/trinity/afterwards.html
In: 685
There are two ways to get radiation during an atomic detonation: 1) the detonation itself 2) radioactive contamination.
The essentially run away nuclear reaction of an atomic bomb releases radiation into the surrounding areas. But, once the nuclear chain reaction stops, which is very soon after it starts, radiation from this source ceases. Oppenheimer hiding in control bunker far away protected him from mo t of that radiation.
But, the nuclear chain reaction 1) throws radioactive fuel away from the explosion 2) radioactive fuel breaks down into other radioactive elements 3) things like soil become radioactive.
It is these bits of radioactive stuff that cause problems because they last a long time and release radiation over time.
The worst thing that can happen is a bit of radioactive stuff gets stuck inside you and it keeps hitting you with radiation over time damaging cells and causing cancer.
So, unless you get a lot of radioactive stuff on or in you, the problem is largely a long term problem. Which it possibly was for people who lived nearby.
A short visit to Trinity after months, being sure to clean the dust off you… should mostly be OK.
Btw, Oppenheimer did die of cancer. But probably from smoking too much.
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